Outside brings In
The world shares its tailwind
For your cherished kin -
Rising us all higher
To punch-in our collective win!
Outside brings IN
When stagnation and struggle begin to creep within, how do we sustain a positive spin? Do we allow ourselves to draw thin, and fail to share a friendly grin with our friends?
Nay, I say!!
Alright look - what I’ve found - it’s all about dialing back to our roots of common threads. When all the plastic/made-up differences between each other are put away - we are able to embrace each other in genuine play.
Generally, we all are looking to float down-stream on the same river, heading to the ocean of purity, love, and prosperity. The challenge for some of us is to get off the river-bank, and hop on the raft to this ocean of purity. Sometimes, this can even require us to jump onto another’s raft - and find partnership in the journey to arrive the sacred ocean.
This past weekend at two local events here in Red River, New Mexico - this exact process manifested. This is what Cholla At Me is all about!
Attending Jamboree and meeting some lovely people - some great folks from Evergreen, CO & some awesome Oklahomies from around Guymon (western OK) were a TREAT. Didn’t snag any photos (as doing it live is best), but - certainly more to come for ALL events. Hang onto your horses because soon Cholla At Me will be hosting its own too!
Onto the MAIN EVENT: the Red River Rodeo (beware, many photos coming your way now)!!
It was the pleasure to meet Adam Montoya (father) and his son, rider - Noah Montoya from Mendesia, New Mexico. They came all the way up to Red River (as quite a bit did all the way from Las Cruces)! There’s a lot more Cholla-cactus jumping out down there than up here in the northern mountains!
Noah Montoya posing like a cowboy gangster after his hard-earned rides in the afternoon rodeo.
Noah, and others absolutely put on a SHOW for the tourists (and many New Mexican locals too)! The crowd was pumped up almost to capacity and the music was bumping - energy was live and red hot. I tried to get a spot at the top of the bleachers to take more photos - but could barely fit it was so full!
In fact, Jamboree (the little music festival at Brandenburg (city) Park) - was almost completely empty by the time this event started. One could say, the people were HUNGRY for some live-riding action.
Now, there was a mixture of bull-riding and rough-stock horse riding; regardless, the boys were OH SO SORE after the rides. You know - I’m lucky I wasn’t born a cowboy because I’d probably have broken my neck by now (mother still has accidental insurance on me). But you know how rodeos go - the people want to see some action and these local cowboys DELIVERED.
Bull-rider needing an ice bath after this fall!
Overall, there was a true positive energy all around at this rodeo event. It was truly refreshing to vibe with many New Mexican locals that brought pure energy and support for the riders. Kids were playing, vendors were popping, and all gathered for some fresh Saturday kick-back good vibes.
If I was coming to Red River for a rodeo - this one was IT. I can attest to this as they had another rodeo at the exact same location another time - and it just wasn’t hitting the same.
Tune into the next rodeo that I’ll be covering - the epic Rodeo de Taos coming up Aug. 8-9th.
Here’s some other HOT happenings going on in August:
Red River: 8750' BBQ & Music Festival (August 12-16) - Red River's signature summer blowout returns with three days of live music alongside sanctioned cookoff competitions.
Santa Fe: Santa Fe Indian Market (104th Annual, August 15-16) - Absolute EPIC art market (world-class). My cool uncle Cole comes out every year just for this one. Stupendous art, don’t miss!
+Santa Fe Beer Festival (August 8-9) - craft beer festival on the grounds of the 200-acre living history museum. Who doesn’t want to drink beer at a museum?!
Angel Fire: Music from Angel Fire (43rd season, August 13-26) - Great tunes all around the legendary Enchanted Circle - playing in Taos, Angel Fire, Raton, Eagle Nest over these two weeks.
Taos: Taos Mountain Wellness Festival (August 14-16) - Formerly the Taos Mountain Yoga Festival, reimagined around a broader wellness theme — Our True Nature. Three days of yoga, sound healing, dance, and nature writing in the Sangre de Cristos. All levels welcome.
Remember - Outside brings IN (while building within). By finding good people, you will find yourself. There is truly a magic to engaging new people, spaces, and projects. Go forward with grace and you will be supported by those that want the best for you.
INTEGRITY NOTE: Absolutely NO AI USED IN WRITING AT ALL. Not even editing.
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INTENTION: I share these excerpts with the intention to understand through writing, not to lecture or come from a place of superiority.
You are the reader, and I the writer, are one in the same.
Carry on your light with grace, fellow humans.
CHOLLA AT ME!
